Properly preparing your home for cold weather can save energy, help keep your winter energy bills under control, and keep you and your family warm when temperatures drop. (more…)
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Archive for the ‘Energy Saver Tips’ Category
Winter/Holiday Energy Saving Tips
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011Fall/Winter Energy Savings Tip
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011Fall/Winter Energy Saving Tips
The following tips will save you energy and help your budget as the weather cools down.
- Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees when you are home and lower the temperature when you go to bed or when you are not at home. This will ensure optimal home heating and save energy.
- For every degree you lower your thermostat you save about 2 percent off your heating bill.
- Cut annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent a year by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours a day.
Tips to Reduce Energy Consumption of Your House
Monday, August 29th, 2011Tips to reduce energy consumption of your house
Energy StarEnergy efficiency
With inflation burning a hole in every pocket and the impending doom of exhaustion of all non-renewable sources of energy, energy conservation today is the buzz word. Not only from the financial point of view, it’s also a responsibility of every informed and vigilant household to contribute towards energy conservation. Howsoever clichéd it may sound but it’s true, energy saved is energy produced. Following are some tips to reduce energy consumption at your home: (more…)
6 Ways to Save Energy and Money
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011U.S. homes account for 20 percent of total energy use, and heating and cooling consume an amazing 44 percent of energy use in homes. Heating oil, natural gas and electricity costs are all expected to continue to rise. If you find that your energy-related costs are becoming way too cumbersome, there are some relatively painless steps you can take to save energy and put some extra money in your pocket while doing so. (more…)
Is Your Home Energy Efficient?
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011We hear it all the time: energy efficiency. But are we doing it in our homes? Residential homes consume nearly 21% of the total US energy production. A recent survey indicated only 16% of the respondents invested in attic insulation, the most effective means for conserving energy in older homes. Nearly 80% of older homes are insulated ineffectively, yet the number one reason most consumers want to become energy efficient is to reduce heating and cooling costs. According to the American Solar Energy Society, here are a few ways you can reduce those costs and make your home more energy efficient: (more…)
What’s a Drainback Tank?
Monday, October 25th, 2010A renewable energy project as large as the one we are doing at Camp St. Christopher can be complicated. Part of the installation process for a solar water heater is something called a drainback tank. It’s actually really interesting and very important to the water heating system. Rather than explain anything here, just watch the video! Paul does a great job of explaining what they do and how they work. (more…)
Hurricane Season is Here!
Sunday, August 29th, 2010According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), hurricanes are violent storms which can bring intense winds, heavy rain, a storm surge, floods, coastal erosion, landslides, and tornadoes. The season for hurricanes runs from June through November, with most hurricanes occurring mid-August to late October. Each season, on average, six hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean of which two become major hurricanes.
If you’ve been a resident of Charleston, SC for any amount of time, you would probably agree with us that the major discussion on the news during hurricane season is the weather. It seems like every year we find ourselves tracking storms out in the Atlantic and speculating whether or not we are in danger. With most hurricanes occurring in mid August to late October, we are in the eye of the storm of hurricane season, so to speak….clever, we know.
While it is difficult to predict the exact time, place, and force of hurricanes, it is important that residents of Charleston be prepared for anything Mother Nature throws at us. At Sustainable Energy Solutions, we thought we would relay some information to help you prepare for a hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center, a disaster supply kit should include the following:
- Water – at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
- Food – at least enough for 3 to 7 days
- Blankets / Pillows, etc.
- Clothing – seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
- First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
- Special Items – for babies and the elderly
- Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
- Flashlight / Batteries
- Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
- Telephones – Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
- Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards – Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended period
- Important documents – in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag – insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
- Tools – keep a set with you during the storm
- Vehicle fuel tanks filled
- Pet care items
Of course, the best thing to do will be to evacuate if a large hurricane threatens Charleston. Just in case that isn’t an option, these are some of the things you’ll want to have on hand. We aren’t the experts on this, but wanted to let our readers know it’s something we should all be thinking about. Let’s all hope we never have to use a disaster supply kit this hurricane season!
Home Energy Rating System
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010Do you know your Home Energy Rating? Have you ever heard of a system that rates a home’s energy efficiency? The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) established the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) to measure the energy efficiency of your home.
Essentially, a home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index. Some tests conducted to determine efficiency include a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home.
The HERS Index is a scoring system compares the home being tested to a HERS Reference Home that was built based upton the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. This reference home has a Index of 100, and represents the minimum energy rating acceptable to be considered Energy Star Certified. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.
Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. So for example, if your home scores a HERS index of 85, then it would be 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home, and thereby considered to be quite energy efficient.
So why do we even need a Home Energy Rating System? It is actually used for multiple reasons. The obvious reason is so people know whether or not they are wasting money on their energy costs. This index provides a way for homeowners to determine where they are losing money every month, and what they can do to cut back on energy costs.
Another reason is for financing renewable energy projects. Do you remember our post about financing options for solar energy units? Lenders will examine and home’s HERS Index when considering them for a loan.
So do you know your home’s rating? You may be surprised to find that you’re paying quite a bit extra every month on your energy bill because of an inefficient home. Sustainable Energy Solutions is currently offering free site inspections to determine the efficiency of your home. Give us a call or respond to this blog to have us out to the house. As we said, it’s completely free. If your home is inefficient, we can talk about options then. If not, the worst that can happen is you learn your home is doing its job with regard to energy consumption! We look forward to seeing you soon.
Solar Energy Financing Options
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010We recently posted a blog about the tax incentives available for purchasing a solar energy unit for your home or business. While the incentives are quite generous, up to 55% in credits for homeowners, a solar energy system may still be a little pricier than you can afford. We completely understand. That’s why we want to tell you a little about some financing options that you may have not known about.
The U.S. Department of Energy has multiple suggestions on their site on ways to finance your solar energy investment. You can apply for energy-efficient financing through a government-insured or conventional loan program. In South Carolina, our State Energy Office has programs for residents interested in purchasing solar energy products. You can check those out on their website.
FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage program (EEM) helps homebuyers or homeowners save money on utility bills by enabling them to finance the cost of adding energy efficiency features to new or existing housing as part of their FHA insured home purchase or refinancing mortgage.
There are two types of energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs): one for a new home and one for an existing home. With an EEM, you can purchase or refinance a home that is already energy efficient, or you can purchase or refinance a home that will become energy efficient after energy-saving improvements are made. Most energy-efficient financing programs offer both types of EEMs, as well as home-improvement loans for making energy-efficiency upgrades to your existing home.
Another way to finance your solar energy unit is a solar same as cash loan. These are no money down, no interest for a chosen period of time which corresponds to an origination fee on the loan. This basically means you can get a solar system and not pay anything until you get your tax credit back the following year.
For commercial projects, a business can get a grant upfront instead of a tax credit the following year. If you’re interested in looking into obtaining a grant, get in touch with us and we can walk you through that process. We’ll even help out with the paperwork!
Also something to look at is the success of Property Assessed Clean Energy programs (PACE) that municipalities across the country have started adopting- basically a municipal fund is created through bonds that allows homeowners or businesses to borrow against it and pay it back through their property taxes.
As you can see, there are many different avenues out there for financing of a new solar energy system. Also, remember to check out information about Tax Incentives that are available. There’s a reason the government is trying to make purchasing these units enticing; it’s good for our planet. Get in touch with Sustainable Energy Solutions today to find out about how you can start doing your part!
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